Abiathee chadwick



(No Model.)

A. CHADWICK.

REVERSIBLE COAL CHUTE.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

NITED STATES ATENT Prion.

REVERSIBLE COAL-CHUTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,471, dated March10, 1885.

7 Application filed December 2, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABIATHER OHADWIOK, ofKansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented a new and ImprovedReversible Coal-Chute, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention has for its object the provision of improved means wherebybox and stock cars may be readily loaded with coal or the like withoutthe intervention of handshoveling; and it consists, principally, inapplying to the delivery or lower end of a chute a shunting-apron thatis provided with a sliding hinge and is capable of being reversed orswung around in a horizontal plane, for the purpose of guiding thedescending current of coal toward either end of the car, as may bedesired.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of thisspecification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in each figure.

Figure l is a perspective view of the lower extremity of a chute havingmy improved apron applied thereto. Fig. 2is a detail view in perspectiveof the locking-pin and its key. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the underside of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a section through the longitudinal line9 9, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the upper side of the device,and Fig. 6 is alike view and exhibits the position of the apron when theapparatus is applied to a car-door.

My improved apron A, as shown in the plan views, is constructed of anyapproved material, in the form of a quarter-circle, and it is connectednear its radius-point, by means of the hinge-piece d, to a rod, E,extending laterally from the sides K of the chute, beneath the bottomthereof, F. The said hinge-piece d is pivotally attached to the underside of the apron by means of the rivet or bolt f. The apron A isprovided upon its circumference with a raised flange, B, correspondingin height to the chute-sides K. The flange is provided upon its upperedge with a raised portion, 6, in order that a supporting-chain, H, (thelower extremity of which is adjustably connected thereto through theaperture (a) may not come in contact with the chute-sides.

The upper end of the said chain is attached centrally to the crossbar Lof the supporting-frame L, and its lower end carries a hook, h, whichmay engage any desired link of the chain for the purpose of adjustingthe apron in relation to the bottom of the chute. When the apron A is inthe position shownin Fig. 1, the current of the coal descending thechute will come in contact with the flange B and be thrown toward oneend of the car 0; and when it is desired to fill the opposite end thefastening-bolt T (which passes through an aperture, D, in the outercorners of the flange B and through a corresponding aperture, D, in thesides of the chute) is withdrawn by removing its key i from the aperture6 in the said bolt. Then the apron A is swung around (the hinge dsliding upon the rod E) to a reverse position, as shown in Fig. 5.

I do not desire to limit myself to the fastening-bolt that I have shown,for it is obvious that a spring-latch could be substituted therefor.

WVhen the apron is not in use, it may be swung inwardly from either sidetoward the screen S, as shown by the dotted lines B. The edges R of theapron are turned slightly downward in order not to intercept the passageof the coal.

My improved shunting-apron may be termed an open apron, for the reasonthat it is not in tubular form and is devoid of any covering.

I am aware in loading cars that grain has been delivered through atubular nozzle that is curved to point at right angles, or thereabout,to the main spout, and is capableof being revolved thereon, so as toshoot the gram in any direction at right angles thereto. Such aconstruction does not answer my present purpose, for the nozzle, beingtubular or closed, would be liable to clog with lumps of coal or likematerial. Moreover, the form of the nozzle is such as renders itimpracticable as regards strength to withstand the impact of heavymaterial. I therefore disclaim the construction referred to; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An open shunting-apron that is capable of being reversed or swungaround in a horizontal plane, for the purpose of deflecting the I poseof deflecting the material to either side descending current of materialto either side of the chute, substantially as described. 10 0f thechute, substantially as specified. In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature in 2. The combination, with the delivery end presence of twowitnesses. 5 of a coal-chute, of ashunting-apron attached ABIATHEROHADWIOK.

thereto by a sliding" hinge in such a manner Wi tn esses:

that it may be reversed in a horizontal plane I CHARLES WEBER, andsecurely locked in position, for the pur- O. W. WHITEHEAD.

